The league’s goal is to help young people learn the value of discipline, good sportsmanship, and teamwork through basketball.
The Kingston Hoops Summer Sizzle Basketball League is a coed sports program designed to help boys and girls ages 8 to 18 achieve their maximum potential through an organized recreational sport. The league’s season runs from July to August, but volunteer coaches get to know their teams in May. This gives them two months to prepare young people for competition during the season. Another mission of t
he league is to foster community pride in not only the Kingston area, but Ulster County overall. By allowing players from outside the Kingston area to participate in the league, youth and adults get a chance to breakdown socioeconomic, religious, and racial barriers. They get a chance to embrace diversity by getting to know their neighbors beyond city limits. Also, those from outside of Kingston get a chance to see a positive side of the city. The league was founded in 2006 by Charlene L. LaDay-Hill who with the help of community organizations such as: Concerned Parents of Kingston, Kingston Cares, Everette Hodge Center, Minister’s Alliance of Ulster County, Police Athletic League, and City of Kingston Parks & Recreation, were able to have 100 kids, ranging from ages 12 to 18, a total of 8 teams, playing in that year. In 2007, the league grew to 150 kids, with two age divisions: 11-14 and 15-18, with a total of 12 teams. In 2008, a third age division: 8-10 was added, and the league grew to 14 teams and over 220 kids participating. In 2009, they had 17 teams and 250 kids playing. In 2010, despite a $7,000 cut in CDBG funds, they still had 15 teams and 235 kids. In 2011, the league had 16 teams and 200 kids.
